He didn't say "prove", he said "suggest."
it suggests his client is innocent because if his client had actually committed a real violent crime immediately beforehand he wouldn't be writing emails callously joking about vicious crimes.
Unless he was insane - which is also a defense.
So "suggests" is not equal to "proves"? I really believe that is what the lawyer was alluding to. They do this in court all the time.
I disagree. Remember Robert Chambers the Preppy Murderer? After he was accused of killing Jennifer Levin, he was videoed at an all girl slumber party where he pretended to strangle a doll. The doll's head came off and he was recorded saying, "Ooops, I think I killed it!" Jennifer had been strangled and raped. He claimed consentual rough sex. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years.
I don't know the guilt or innocence of the Duke Lacrosse player, but I can see a guilty person sending an email like that one.